Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact human health and welfare on a global level. In March 2020, stringent national restrictions were enforced in the UK to protect public health and slow the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Restrictions were likely to have resulted in collateral consequences for the health and welfare of horses and ponies, especially those at risk of obesity and laminitis and this issue warranted more detailed exploration. The current study utilised qualitative methodology to investigate the implications of COVID-19 related policies upon equine management and welfare with a focus on horses and ponies at risk of laminitis and obesity. Twenty-four interviews with five sub-groups of key equestrian welfare stakeholders in the UK were conducted between May and July of 2020 to understand the challenges facing equine welfare in the context of laminitis and obesity susceptible animals. Thematic analysis revealed lockdown-associated factors with the potential to compromise welfare of horses and ponies at risk of obesity and laminitis. These included: disparate information and guidance, difficulties enacting public health measures in yard environments, and horses having reduced exercise during the pandemic. Positive examples of clear and consistent information sharing by farriers were reported to have improved horse owner understanding of routine hoof care during lockdown. Analysis suggested that the recommendations for supporting the management-based needs of horses under reduced supervision were not clearly defined, or were not sufficiently disseminated, across the equine industry. These findings support the development of guidelines specific to the care of horses and ponies at risk of obesity and laminitis through collaborative input from veterinary and welfare experts, to reduce the negative impacts of future lockdown events in the UK.
Highlights
Themes and sub-themes that were extracted from interview transcript data are presented in S1 Fig. The authors considered that detailed exploration of the theme of mental health during the pandemic was out-with the scope of the present article and the data will be presented in a separate manuscript
In relation to the way in which the interpretation of guidelines affected stakeholders within the equestrian community, followed by the way in which these guidelines impacted on the management of horses and ponies at greater risk of obesity and laminitis, and the experiences of interviewees regarding minimizing the risk of physical injury
The Behavioural Insights Team (Bi Team), a government-based policy institute which utilizes socio-economical insights to develop effective public and veterinary health interventions, surveyed the general public in England to understand how accessible COVID-19 related guidelines were [24]. It was demonstrated whilst the sample population could largely identify their regions COVID alert level, fewer were familiar with more detailed rules regarding support bubbles
Summary
The study was designed and conducted within the methodological framework of hermeneutic phenomenology. Interviews were designed with pre-defined questions to guide discussions. In line with research methods utilising an iterative approach, interviewees were able to lead conversation in areas relating to the pandemic, laminitis, and obesity meaning that as the research evolved, certain concepts were not discussed across all interviews. The primary researcher, a PhD student, received training in qualitative research methods prior to and throughout the study design before conducting a pilot interview which was recorded and assessed to determine the appropriateness of questions, interview style and overall approach. A researcher with expertise in social sciences and conducting qualitative research (KS) was consulted throughout the design of the study and provided structured feedback for interview improvement after evaluating the pilot interview
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